Immigrant children education as means of integration: the Lithuanian case
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs20182.238.247Keywords:
immigrant education, immigrant integration, integration trajectoriesAbstract
Aim. This research paper discusses the educational process of immigrant children in Lithuania with the intention to determine the integration trajectory most likely to be chosen by the immigrant students.
Methods. The research methods include legal analysis of Lithuanian legislations related to immigration, immigrant integration and education, meta-analysis of previous research on immigrant integration into Lithuanian society as well as semi-structured interviews with experts of the field.
Results. Having completed the research, the following conclusion has been drawn: immigrant children education in Lithuania does not tend to create conditions for successful integration and more often than not influences immigrant students to choose those integration paths that may inspire inner or outer conflict. This is due to the lack of integration policy and strategy at the state level as well as the tendency to create a cultural hierarchy wherein the Lithuanian culture is implicitly considered as above others.
Practical application. The results of the research can be used to improve the conditions of immigrant children education in Lithuanian schools on the national level as well as by schools willing to foster the integration of immigrant students; the results can also be considered in the process of establishing integration policy on the state level.
Downloads
References
Arshad-Ayaz, A., & Ayaz, N. (2017). Creating “Invited” Spaces for Counter-Radicalization and Counter-Extremism Education. Diaspora, Indigenous and Minority Education, 11(1), 6-16.
Bartkevičienė, A., & Raudeliūnaitė, R. (2012). Imigrantų, atvykusių iš ne Europos Sąjungos šalių, integracijos priemonių poreikis Lietuvoje. [The Integration Measures Needed by the Immigrants Who Arrive From Non-EU countries] Socialinis darbas, 11(2), 341–354.
Bleich, E. (1999). Re-imagined Communities? Education Policies and National Belonging in Britain and France. In: A. Geddes, & A. Favell (Mont.), The Politics of Belonging (p. 60-75). Aldershot: Ashgate.
Brubaker, R. (2001). The return of assimilation? Changing perspectives on immigration and its sequels in France, Germany, and the United States. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 24(4), 531-548.
Etninių tyrimų institutas [Institute of Ethnic Studies] (2015). Visuomenės nuostatų apklausos rezultatai (požiūris į pabėgėlius). [Results of the public opinion survey (attitude towards refugees).] Available at: http://www.ces.lt/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Po%C5%BEi%C5%ABris-%C4%AF-pab%C4%97g%C4%97lius-2015-m..pdf
European Migration Network. (2014). Asylum and Migration Glossary 3.0. European Migration Network. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/networks/european_migration_network/docs/emn-glossary-en-version.pdf
Favell, A. (2010). Integration and nations: the nation-state and research on immigrants in Western Europe. In: M. Martiniello, & J. Rath (Mont.), Selected Studies in International Migration and Immigrant Incorporation (p. 371-404). Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.
Goodman, S. W., & Wright, M. (2015). Does Mandatory Integration Matter? Effects of Civic Requirements on Immigrant Socio-economic and Political Outcomes. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 41(12), 1885-1908.
Joppke, C., & Morawska, E. (2003). Integrating Immigrants in Liberal Nation-States. In: C. Joppke, & E. Morawska (Mont.), Toward Assimilation and Citizenship: Immigrants in Liberal Nation-States (p. 1-36). Basingstoke: PALGRAVE MACMILLAN.
Kivisto, P. (2005). The Revival of Assimilation in Historical Perspective. In: P. Kivisto (Mont.), Incorporating Diversity: Rethinking Assimilation in a Multicultural Age (p. 3-29). Boulder: Paradigm Publishers.
Loch, D. (2014). Integration as a sociological concept and national model for immigrants: scope and limits. Identities, 21(6), 623-632.
Patel, L. L. (2013). In Loco Emporium: Immigrant Youth and Educators in the Social Contracts of Education. Children & Society, 27, 309-320.
Pennix, R., & Garcés-Mascareñas, B. (2016). The Concept of Integration as an Analytical Tool and as a Policy Concept. In: R. Pennix, & B. Garcés-Mascareñas (Mont.), Integration Processes and Policies in Europe (p. 11-29). Springer International Publishing.
Platačiūtė, V., & Žibas, K. (2014). Migrantų integracija ir migracijos tinklai Lietuvoje: nuo teorinių veiksnių iki empirinių duomenų. [Migrant integration and migrant networks in Lithuania: from theoretical aspects to empirical data]. OIKOS. Lietuvių migracijos ir diasporos studijos, 2(18), 7-22.
Stonkuvienė, I. (2015). Cultural Identity, Language and School: the case of Lithuania. Acta Paedagogica Vilnensia, 34-48. Available at: http://www.journals.vu.lt/acta-paedagogica-vilnensia/article/view/8341/6213
Wieviorka, M. (2014). A critique of integration. Identities, 21(6), 633-641.
Žydžiūnaitė, V., Rupšienė, L., Kučinskienė, R., Katiliūtė, E., Saulėnienė, S., & Jonušaitė, S. (2005). Užsieniečių vaikų ugdymo organizavimas Lietuvos bendrojo lavinimo mokyklose. [ Organization of foreign children education in Lithuanian general education schools] Available at: https://www.smm.lt/uploads/documents/kiti/galutinis_koreguot_SMM_uzsienvaik_ATASK_2006.pdf
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
CC-BY
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. All authors agree for publishing their email adresses, affiliations and short bio statements with their articles during the submission process.
